English

English courses in the Languages and Literatures Department include the study of the English language, the practical skills of writing, and the human insights communicated through literature. English majors learn not only to communicate effectively, but also to think critically, creatively, and analytically. These qualities prepare them to continue learning beyond college and to apply and adapt their skills in a world where careers are constantly changing and being redefined.

English majors may choose to emphasize creative writing, scientific and technical writing or literature, any of which may be combined with certification and licensure through the College of Education. In addition, the department offers a minor in teaching English as a second language, which combines the study of linguistics with an understanding of issues and materials related to second language acquisition.

The College of Education is fully accredited through the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). English majors may choose to emphasize creative writing, scientific and technical writing or literature, any of which may be combined with certification and licensure through the College of Education.

Because it provides a broad knowledge base, flexible communication skills, criticalthinking abilities and an understanding of human nature, the English major prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities. Students in non-teaching emphases are encouraged to minor in applied fields such as business, public relations or journalism to complement the major. In recent years, English majors have found positions in the following areas:

• Writing and editing for magazines, newspapers, and publishing companies
• Technical writing
• Management training and personnel
• Public relations and advertising
• Sales and customer service
• Research
• State and federal government
• Teaching at the secondary or middleschool level
• Teaching English as a second language to adults, either abroad through the Peace Corps, or through bridge programs and corporate workplace programs

Nearly all English faculty hold doctoral degrees in literature, applied linguistics, or rhetoric and composition. Members of the faculty in the creative writing program hold master's of fine arts degrees, the terminal degree in that field. No classes are taught by teaching assistants.

Six faculty members have received the David Saunders Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Humanities. Others have received the College of Letters and Sciences Award for Outstanding Teaching. UW System has named seven of the faculty in English as UW System Teaching Fellows.

Faculty members combine their teaching with active work and publication in their chosen fields, including creative writing, literary scholarship, research on rhetoric, composition or linguistics. In 1999, the Department of Languages and Literature won the UW Regents Award for The Outstanding Teaching Department for the entire UW System.

An English major should have a keen interest in language, literature and human nature. Students should prepare by taking high school courses in English, journalism, drama, foreign languages and speech. Participation in extracurricular activities such as the student newspaper, yearbook, drama club, forensics, debate and foreign language clubs is useful to a prospective English major. Students in advanced placement English who receive appropriate scores on the examination will be awarded college credit that will satisfy part or all of the English proficiency requirement.

The department awards the Paul Grant Scholarship to an incoming freshman planning to major in English. The Robert and Marion Burrows Scholarship is awarded to a junior in English education or English literature. Two Heide Awards, one for creative writing and one for the highest grade point average, are awarded to senior students. Each semester the department also recognizes outstanding student writing, and winners go on to compete for College Superior Student Writing Awards. Students may also apply for the History DepartmentÕs Graham Scholarship, which supports study in England.

Students are strongly encouraged to gain practical experience in writing, editing and publishing through internships, which are available in public and private organizations. Organizations that have worked with English interns in recent years include:

• UW-Whitewater's News and Publications
• A/B: auto/biography Studies
• Johnson Hill Press
• The Week in Walworth County
• Milwaukee Public Museum
• Whitewater Chamber of Commerce

In recent years, 95 percent of English education majors have found employment as full-time teachers or substitutes. Placement rates for English literature and English-writing emphasis majors indicate that 90 to 95 percent find employment in related fields. Completing an internship is highly recommended to increase marketable job skills.

Students in English serve as editors of the campus literary magazine, MUSE. Faculty and students collaborate in the Works in Progress Cafe, held bi-weekly in the Fern Young Terrace, with two featured readers followed by an open mike. Majors receive the departmental newsletter, and meetings are scheduled with recent graduates to discuss job prospects.

Following two semesters of freshman English, majors usually enroll in the core courses in the major, as well as satisfying the upper-level writing proficiency requirement, English 271: Critical Writing. A sophomore literature major would typically complete the following courses during the academic year:

British Literature Survey I or II
American Literature Survey I or II
Introduction to Language
Study Critical Writing

A sophomore writing-emphasis major would enroll in one of the survey courses, plus introduction to language study, critical writing, and creative writing. In subsequent semesters, all students enroll in an additional core course as well as electives related to the emphasis. Upper-level courses range from Shakespeare to fiction writing and desktop publishing.